Finger-board attachment



T. J. HEWITT.

FINGER BOARD ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8. 1918 1 35 1, 570 Patented Aug. 31 1920.

Fig

vwewboz Thomas J IYewitL PATENT OFFIQE.

THOMAS J. HEWITT, OF GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA.

FINGER-BOARD ATTACHMENT.

Application filed October 8, 1918.

To all '11. 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, THoMAs J. Hnwrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Forlth, in the county of Grand Forks and State oi? North Dakota, have invented n w and useful. Improvements in Fin er- Board Attachments, of which the following in specification.

This invention relates to attachments for the finger-boards oi violins and other stringed instruments, the primary object of the invention being to provide novel means tor indicating the positions at which the strings are to be stopped or pressed to regulate the vibrations of the strings according to the notes to be played, thereby enabling a student to quickly learn the art of fingering and others familiar with the instrument to gain greater speed and accuracy in fingering.

A further object of the invention is to provide visual indicators .vhereby the work of the instructor may be simplified and selfinstruction and practice-work facilitated.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the fingerboard of: a violin or like instrument, showing the application of my improved finger-position indicators applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the fingerboard.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the indicators detached.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the use of a modified form of indicators.

5 is a perspective view oi one of the indicators shown in Fig. 4.

.J'erring lo the drawing, and particular to Figs. l. and 3, l designates the tingcrlxnird oi a. violin or other similar .iusical instrument, and the strings thereoi". in connection with which the usual trots may be employed, if desired.

in accordance with my invention I provide a 'e-s of indicators 3. arranged at proper points along the fingerboard to indicate the positions where the strings should be stopped for the purpose of producing certain notes. Each of these indicators comprises a spring wire arch having its down turned end portions provided with Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Serial No. 257,318.

clamping plates 4, each of which may be provided with instruck indentations or serrations 5.

As shown each indicator arch extends across the fingerboard at a sufiicient distance from or elevation above the strings 2 to permit the strings to vibrate without i11 tert'erence therefrom, and the clamping plates or members 4 are arranged to bear against the opposite sides of the fingerboard to hold the incicator in position. These clamping plates or members are held in gripping engagement with the sides of the fingerboard by the contractile energy of the ends of the wire spring arch, nd they are prevented from slipping or sliding out of position by the serrated surfaces.

It is to be understood, of course, that the indicators may vary in length according to the position they are to occupy upon tapered fingerboard, or one which varies in width throughout its length, and that the indicators of the series are arranged at proper points to visually indicate those points where the strings are to be stopped in order to produce designated notes. The indicators, in addition to being arranged to allow the strings to have free vibration, disposed also in such manner as to permit the fingers of the student or musician to come in contact with the strings for the stopping actions without liability of the indicators interfering in any manner with the proper manipulation of the fingers.

The indicators may in practice be applied in a ready and convenient manner to any ordinary type of musical. instrument in use for which they are designed. and afford a ready and convenient means of visually indicating points where the strings are to be stopped for producing notes, and thus are of great convenience and value to the student in enabling him to quickly learn the art'of fingering, and to others familiar with the instrument in enabling them to gain greater speed and accuracy in lingering. They also simplify the work oi? the instructor and facilitate and render easier self-instruction and practice work, as will be readily understood. \Vhen it is not de sired to employ the indicators. it is evident that they may be quickly detached from the fingerboard and stored in a case or other receptacle for future use.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the cross bar type of indicator illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 is dispensed with, and in lieu thereof visual indicators 6 are employed at the points Where the strings are to be stopped for the production of the different notes. Each of these indicators comprises a head 7 of suitable form, having a pointed spur or shank 8 adapted to pierce or to be forced in the Woodwork of the tingerbcard for detachably securing them in position. The heads of these indicators are arranged to lie between and below the plane of adjacent strings, and are thus out of the Way of the strings in their vibratory motion, While indicating the exact points at which the strings should be fingered or stopped. These indicators also provide visual or sight indicators Which facilitate transversely extendin clam )in slates e r p l said plates having their inner tacos provided with ribs engaglng the aforesaid grooves.

In testimony Whereo I iii}; my signature.

t a THOMAS J. HEWITT. 

